House of Commons Commission

Palace of Westminster: Access

Damien Moore: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission is taking steps to enable public access to Saint Stephen’s Cloisters at appropriate times.

Sir Charles Walker: In the long-term, we are committed to enabling public access to the St Stephen's Cloister. At present this is not possible because the condition of the stonework is very poor.One bay within the Cloister was conserved as a trial project. This will inform the next phase of repair, which is currently being developed. Our intention is to develop proposals to repair both the stonework and the roofs, with a view to conservation works starting on site by 2025.Once this work is complete, public access to Cloister Court should be possible; however, due to current access routes and its proximity to Members’ Entrance, access will need to be carefully managed.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Dangerous Dogs

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of trends in the number of dog attacks in the last 12 months.

Trudy Harrison: Defra does not collect this data. Hospital Episode Statistics published by NHS Digital include numbers of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) for hospital admissions in England that were caused by a dog bite or strike.

Dangerous Dogs

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of dog breed-specific legislation.

Trudy Harrison: We currently have no plans to review Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. The Government firmly believes that these restrictions play a very important part in our overall approach towards tackling dangerous dogs.

Livestock: Disease Control

Robert Courts: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has undertaken planning exercises in the last 10 years to test the UK's preparedness for managing a farm animal disease outbreak.

Mark Spencer: There have been four UK-wide exercises involving Defra, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and the Animal and Plant Health Agency including their operational partners and stakeholder organisations:Exercise Holly (July 2021) tested government’s response to an outbreak of African swine fever.Exercise Blackthorn (November 2017 to July 2018) tested the response to a major outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD).Exercise Willow (2016) examined the UK’s capacity to respond to a large cross-border outbreak of FMD.Exercise Walnut (2013) tested the response to an outbreak of classical swine fever.We have also completed numerous operational, field and laboratory-based exercises to test and refine contingency plans on a yearly cycle, and our response capability has been tested by real-world outbreaks such as the ongoing outbreak of avian influenza.

Avian Influenza: Vaccination

Robert Courts: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on developing an avian influenza vaccination trade strategy.

Mark Spencer: The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential.

Birds: Disease Control

Robert Courts: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to take steps to (a) review and (b) update the notifiable avian disease control strategy, published on 30 August 2018.

Mark Spencer: Current avian influenza disease control policy considers the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice, reflects our experience of responding to past outbreaks of exotic animal disease and is in line with international standards of best practice for disease control. Defra’s approach to avian influenza is set out in the Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain, published in September 2019. This document is currently under review and is being updated to reflect the recent legislative and policy changes that have already been implemented and an updated version will be published on gov.uk prior to the 2023/2024 high risk season. The Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain is supported by the Mitigation Strategy for Avian Influenza in Wild Birds in England and Wales, an updated version of which was published in March 2023.

Animals and Animal Products: France

Robert Courts: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to take steps to suspend the import of (a) animals and (b) animal products from France after the commencement of its avian flu vaccination programme in autumn 2023.

Mark Spencer: It is important to note that, according to Great Britain's Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy, avian flu vaccination, barring those in licensed English zoos, is currently not permitted for poultry and captive birds. These steps represent our commitment to maintaining animal and public health.In response to France's commitments on its autumn 2023 avian flu vaccination programme, my department has formed a task force to explore broader vaccination use as a preventive measure against avian influenza.This group, consisting of Government and industry experts, will formulate potential domestic strategies, with considerations for trade impact and necessary mitigations to prevent trade barriers, potentially including suspension of import of animals and animal products from France. All proposed changes will be backed by robust risk assessments.

Dangerous Dogs

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of legislation to reduce the number of dog attacks.

Trudy Harrison: The existing legal framework for dog control equips the police and local authorities with appropriate powers to tackle dangerous dogs and irresponsible dog ownership. We are working in partnership with the police, local authorities and animal welfare organisations to ensure that the full range of existing dog control powers are effectively applied.

Rivers: Microplastics

Sir Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is taking steps to improve methods of measuring the (a) amount and (b) types of (i) microplastic and (ii) microfibres in chalk streams; and if she will make a statement.

Rebecca Pow: The Environment Agency are currently developing a microplastics monitoring strategy for all river catchments in England. The Government has prioritised chalk streams in policy and legislation. In the Plan for Water, we have reaffirmed our commitment to protecting chalk streams and recognised them as having a special natural heritage.

Rivers: Pollution Control

Sir Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will take steps to work with water companies to explore (a) the management of microplastics in sewage sludge and (b) options for protecting chalk streams; and if she will make a statement.

Rebecca Pow: Last year the Government launched the most ambitious plan to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows in water company history. The Environment Agency are currently developing a microplastics monitoring strategy for river all catchments in England. The Government has prioritised chalk streams in policy and legislation. In the Plan for Water, we reaffirmed our commitment to protecting chalk streams and recognised them as having a special natural heritage.

Fish Farming: Animal Welfare

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to publish its response to the Animal Welfare Committee's Opinion on the Welfare of Farmed Fish at the Time of Killing.

Mark Spencer: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston, on 10 March 2023, PQ UIN 158986.

Water Abstraction: Licensing

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will work with the Environment Agency to develop a service level agreement with water abstraction licence holders on time for adaption when licences are changed.

Rebecca Pow: In April we published our Plan for Water, which sets out the importance of ensuring a clean and plentiful water supply, including environmentally sustainable water abstraction. I expect the Environment Agency to take what action is needed to reduce the environmental damage caused by abstraction – this will include changing abstraction licences. The Environment Agency has indicated that it will consider giving abstractors time to adapt to licence changes on a case-by-case basis. Management options could include, for example, building a storage reservoir to replace a summer spray irrigation licence to abstract from a river. The Environment Agency is currently developing its approach, but current thinking is that it will be up to abstractors to justify why they need time to adapt. There will not be any fixed adaptation time but instead the period of time will be consistent with the environmental risks, the proposed adaptation and how much notice an abstractor has already had of the changes. Where an abstraction is already damaging the environment then it may not be possible for the Environment Agency to allow any time to adapt, especially where an abstraction is damaging a designated site or species. The Government also supports the agricultural sector with its Farming Transformation Fund grants for the construction of new on-farm reservoirs. We are also supporting the creation of national and regional Water Resource Management Plans for agriculture, which will help farmers plan their water resources and ensure better resilience to drought.

Parks: Women

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to improve (a) access to and (b) safety in parks for women and girls.

Trudy Harrison: (a) As part of our commitment outlined in the Environmental Improvement Plan, we are actively working across government to ensure that everyone can live within a 15-minute walk of a green or blue space. This includes delivering policies such as completing the King Charles III England Coast Path, which will be the longest coastal walking route in the world and creating new open access land within the coastal margin; designating Wainwright’s coast to coast path across the North of England as a new National Trail; and Delivering the £9m Levelling Up Parks Fund to improve green space in over 100 disadvantaged neighbourhoods.(b) The Government has invested £125 million through the Safer Streets and Safety of Women at Night Funds to make streets safer for women and girls, including in public spaces. The current round of the Safer Streets Fund, Round 4, focuses on tackling violence against women and girls in public places. It has allocated £50 million for 111 projects, supporting interventions such as enhanced street lighting, CCTV installation, bystander training programs, taxi marshals, and educational and awareness raising initiatives. These measures aim to create safer environments and enhance public safety, contributing to increased trust in the police and making communities feel safer. The Government is also supporting the Sex-Based Harassment in Public Bill which would make public sexual harassment a specific offence. The Department for Transport is revising the Manual for Streets guidance which will bring out more explicitly the role that measures such as better lighting and natural surveillance can play in helping women, particularly, feel safer.

Tobacco: Litter

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to tackle littering from cigarette butts.

Rebecca Pow: Cigarette butts continue to be the most littered item according to a survey commissioned by Defra. On our behalf, WRAP have explored options for tackling littering of cigarette butts, including making the industry financially responsible for the costs of dealing with littered butts. The research, which will be published in due course, highlighted the need for further data. We will therefore continue to monitor the available evidence on the prevalence of littered cigarette filters before taking further action.

Chewing Gum: Recycling

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to increase recycling of chewing gum.

Rebecca Pow: Defra, in partnership with Keep Britain Tidy and chewing gum producers, have established the Chewing Gum Task Force through which gum producers will take greater responsibility for the litter and staining caused by their products. Gum producers will be investing up to £10 million over five years to help tackle the issue. As part of the programme of works the Task Force will look at ways of supporting innovation and sharing latest research, which might include recycling of chewing gum.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Shropshire

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential presence of tuberculosis in badgers on land owned by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust.

Mark Spencer: Defra does not have information on the location of land owned by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. Therefore, no assessment has been made on the potential presence of tuberculosis in badgers.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's policy is on whether farmers whose cattle are permanently housed indoors with precautions to prevent badger ingress should pay insurance in case tuberculosis is subsequently detected at the abattoir.

Mark Spencer: Defra does not get involved in cattle keepers’ decisions relating to their bovine TB insurance cover.

Mattresses: Recycling

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to increase rates of recycling of mattresses.

Rebecca Pow: We are exploring options in relation to bulky furniture waste, which includes mattresses, having identified this category in the Resources and Waste Strategy. We are looking at the best ways to reduce waste arising, increase recycling and reuse and minimise the materials ending up in landfill or incineration. This work includes consideration of extended producer responsibility along with other non-EPR policy options.

Recycling

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of creating an extended producer responsibility scheme for (a) tyres, (b) mattresses, (c) white goods and (d) other items.

Rebecca Pow: The Government committed in its Resources and Waste Strategy for England to review and consult on potential measures such as extended producer responsibility and product standards for five new waste streams (including tyres and bulky waste such as mattresses) by the end of 2025. We are considering what policy and legislative framework would be most appropriate for these and other waste streams. We will shortly be publishing our consultation on reforming the existing producer responsibility regime for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) which includes white goods, and invite the Member to respond to those proposals at his convenience.

Textiles: Recycling

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to incentivise (a) recycling and (b) reuse of textiles.

Rebecca Pow: The Government’s 2018 Resources & Waste Strategy for England identified textiles as a priority sector for action. Our ambitions to minimise textile waste will be outlined in the upcoming document Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste, which constitutes a new Waste Prevention Programme for England. We expect to publish this in summer 2023.

Roads: Shrewsbury

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has held discussions with the Environment Agency on its objections to plans for the North West Relief Road in Shrewsbury.

Rebecca Pow: The Environment Agency has not formally objected to Shropshire Council’s proposals for the North West Relief Road. As a statutory consultee, it has been involved in detailed discussions with Shropshire Council and its representatives for several years. Throughout this period, the Environment Agency has offered detailed opinion and advice on several critical matters. Some of these have been resolved and/or noted by the Council. However, the Environment Agency has outstanding concerns about issues to do with protecting the water resources aquifer from which Severn Trent Water draws water supplies for the town of Shrewsbury. The Environment Agency does not consider the information supplied by the Council and its representatives to demonstrate an appropriate level of assessment and risk mitigation. It is for the Council to decide if it wishes further information to be formally submitted to enable the Council Members to make an informed decision. The Environment Agency continues to work with Shropshire Council to resolve this issue and is committed to keeping stakeholders informed.

Electronic Cigarettes: Recycling

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to help ensure that disposable vape producers are contributing to the recycling of their products.

Rebecca Pow: We will shortly consult on changes to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations to consider what, if any, changes to that legislation are needed to ensure the vaping sector specifically plays its part in properly financing the cost of collection and treatment of their products when they become waste. As part of that consultation, we will also consider measures aimed at driving up levels of collection of household WEEE, including vapes, to ensure more of it is properly recycled.

Rivers and Water: Standards

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with local government leaders on water and river quality.

Rebecca Pow: The Secretary of State frequently holds meetings with key stakeholders on water and river quality.

Food: Labelling

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Bristol East of 12 January 2023, Official Report, column 702, what her Department's policy is on the labelling and marketing of plant-based food and drink products.

Mark Spencer: The labelling of all food and drink products is governed by the law on the provision of food information to consumers as well as various agricultural marketing standards that apply to the production and marketing of particular primary commodities. These require that food information is accurate and that consumers are not misled ensuring that consumers are able to make fully informed decisions about the food that they consume.

Animal and Plant Health Agency

Robert Courts: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she made of the adequacy of Animal Plant and Health Agency veterinary resources; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Spencer: APHA has approximately 430 veterinary posts and at the end of May 2023, 60 of these were vacant. Recruitment is underway and locum vets are being used while vacancies are being filled. Because of the nature of APHA work, veterinary resource needs can change rapidly. This was seen during last winter and the large avian influenza outbreak that required a prioritising resource allocation and the temporary expansion of the Agency’s workforce. APHA has contracts in place to enable it to bring in more veterinary resource from private veterinary practices at times of peak demand and this was heavily used during the outbreak. APHA also was also able to draw on veterinary resource from core Defra. There are other potential changes to APHA’s responsibilities which will require more veterinary resource. These changes are individually impact assessed to identify resource requirements. One such example is the new Border Operating Model where APHA is likely to need significant extra veterinary resource to check imported live animals. Defra provides APHA with additional funding to expand veterinary resource where needed.

Animal and Plant Health Agency: Finance

Robert Courts: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding she plans to allocate to the Animal and Plant Health Agency in each of the next five financial years.

Mark Spencer: The Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) Defra funding for financial year 2023-24 is £185.2 million RDEL (Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit) and £15.7 million CDEL (Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit). Indicative funding for 2024-25 has been set but is not yet confirmed and is expected to be agreed by January 2024. Future year funding beyond this is subject to the Government-wide spending review process which will determine the overall funding for Defra and APHA.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Access to Work Programme

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether an Access to Work scheme has been implemented in their Department.

Mark Spencer: Access to Work is a demand-led, personalised discretionary grant which contributes to the disability-related extra costs of working faced by disabled people and those with a health condition in the workplace that are beyond standard reasonable adjustments. It does not replace an employer’s duty under the Equality Act to make reasonable adjustments. In 2006, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) took over responsibility for providing adjustments that would previously have been funded through Access to Work, for civil servants working in their department. This removed the need for DWP staff to apply for Access to Work. In April 2022, all Government departments followed suit and assumed responsibility for providing such adjustments for their staff.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Vodafone Group

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment their Department has made of the potential effect of the merger between Three and Vodafone on their Department's contracts with Vodafone.

Mark Spencer: As an open economy, this Government welcomes and encourages investment where it supports the Prime Minister’s goal of boosting UK growth and jobs, meets our stringent legal and regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security. The Government has robust powers under the National Security & Investment Act, which it introduced, to block or impose remedies on transactions that pose a national security risk. As the hon. Member will appreciate, we cannot comment on specific acquisitions nor the applicability of the National Security and Investment regime.It is the responsibility of Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to assess the impact on consumers and competition in the market, with input from sectoral regulators. The Investment Security Unit works closely with the CMA on cases that are being considered for both national security and competition reasons. A memorandum of understanding has been agreed between the Investment Security Unit and the CMA to assist joint working. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/operation-of-the-national-security-and-investment-act-2021-memorandum-of-understanding/mou-between-beis-and-the-cma-on-the-operation-of-the-national-security-and-investment-act-2021

Palm Oil: Refineries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help support the refining capabilities of sustainable palm oil in the UK.

Mark Spencer: The Government is committed to supporting sustainable production, import and use of palm oil. The UK has a highly resilient edible oil refining sector, which crushes domestically grown oilseeds and refines many different types of oils, including sustainable palm oil, which are produced either in the UK or imported from overseas. The sector has coped well in responding to recent unprecedented challenges, including high energy prices and supply constraints due to geopolitical events. Defra is working closely with the major refiners and their trade body, the Seed Crushers and Oil Processors Association, to understand the impacts of global events on supply chains and to provide an opportunity for the industry to discuss where any Government support may be needed. We continue to work with industry, including with supermarkets and manufacturers, to support sustainable production and use of palm oil. In 2012, the Government established the UK Roundtable on Sourcing Sustainable Palm Oil, bringing together key British businesses and supporting them to move to sustainable palm oil supply chains. In 2020 71% of palm oil and palm kernel oil imports into the UK were certified sustainable – up from 16% in 2010.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Development Plans: Aarhus Convention

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the provisions on National Development Management Policies of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill on the UK's obligations under Article (a) 6 and (b) 7 of the Aarhus Convention.

Rachel Maclean: The Government remains committed to the Aarhus Convention and its requirements for public participation in decision making relating to the environment. The Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill will improve opportunities for public involvement in planning by making procedures more accessible and digital, while maintaining opportunities to comment on plans and planning applications. National Development Management Policies will also be subject to appropriate and any necessary consultation before they are introduced.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

British Indian Ocean Territory: Resettlement

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it is his Department's policy that people removed from the British Indian Ocean Territory in the 1960s were inhabitants of that Territory.

David Rutley: The UK has made clear its deep regret about the manner in which Chagossians were removed from the British Indian Ocean Territory in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The islands were uninhabited until the French established copra plantations using enslaved people specifically brought to the Archipelago for this purpose from 1793. In 1814, the islands were ceded to the UK by France. Over time, workers were recruited from Asia and Africa. By the time of their removal, all those on the islands were employees of the copra plantations or family members of an employee and were present on the islands because of the circumstances of that employment.

India: Railways

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to support the Indian Government following the Odisha train collision.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to meet with his Indian counterpart to discuss how British industry can assist India in modernising its railways.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The train crash in the Indian state of Odisha on 2 June was a tragic accident. As the Transport Secretary has conveyed to his Indian counterpart, the UK Government sends its heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and our thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted. His Majesty's Government recognises that the crash, and overall management of the Indian railway system, are internal matters for India, but we will respond to any requests from the Government of India for assistance.

King's Messengers: Passports

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many King’s Messenger Service passports his Department issued in 2022.

David Rutley: The Department issued no King's Messenger Service passports in 2022.

Somaliland: Foreign Relations

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the government of Somaliland.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK, alongside international partners, regularly has discussions with the Somaliland authorities, including Somaliland President Bihi. As a leading partner of Somaliland, these discussions are wide ranging and include promoting stability, economic, human and social development. In recent discussions the UK has continued to press for an urgent end to the violence in Las Anod. On 7 June we joined United Nations Security Council members to call for all parties to respect international laws and work towards an inclusive dialogue. We will, with partners, continue to engage all parties involved to engage in talks and to try to bring an end to the violence and prevent regional instability.

East Africa: Food Supply

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the African Union on the hunger crisis in East Africa.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK and the African Union (AU) enjoy a strong relationship, collaborating across a range of shared priorities, including humanitarian response. At the UK's request, the AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Cessouma Minata Samate, took part in the high-level humanitarian pledging event on the Horn of Africa, co-chaired by the UK on 24 May 2023. The UK will continue to engage in discussions with the AU on a regular basis, including about the establishment of the AU's planned African Humanitarian Agency.

Zimbabwe: Commonwealth

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of Zimbabwe's readmittance to the Commonwealth.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The decision on whether Zimbabwe re-joins the Commonwealth is for all Commonwealth members. We recognise the value of having Zimbabwe back in the Commonwealth, but any re-entry would need to be on the basis that Zimbabwe meets admission requirements and is able to uphold the values and principles set out in the Commonwealth Charter. Zimbabwe's General Elections this August present a clear opportunity for the Government to demonstrate progress against the principles of the Charter, namely respect for human rights and freedom for the political opposition, civil society and media to operate.

Development Aid: Devolution

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Official Development Assistance spending by the devolved Governments is included in (a) reporting to the OECD Development Co-operation Directorate and (b) the overall UK aid target.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK is required to report its Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend to the OECD Development Assistance Committee. This includes eligible spend by the Devolved Governments to reflect ODA spend across the whole of the UK. Support given to asylum seekers and refugees in the UK that meets the OECD ODA rules, including support given by the Devolved Governments, is reported to the OECD and contributes to the UK Government's commitment to spend around 0.5 per cent Gross National Income (GNI) as ODA.

Togo: Visits Abroad

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to visit Togo.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: There are currently no confirmed plans for a visit to Togo within the next year. The UK Government engages with the Government of Togo through our High Commission in Accra. The UK looks forward to welcoming Togo to the Francophone Africa Trade and Investment Summit in October 2023 in London.

Zimbabwe: Visits Abroad

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has plans to visit Zimbabwe.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: There are currently no plans for a Ministerial visit to Zimbabwe.

South Africa: Food Supply

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Southern African Development Community on the hunger crisis in Southern Africa.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK government continues to cooperate on the ground and regionally with our key bilateral and multilateral partners to monitor the food insecurity situation in Southern Africa and its key drivers. We hold regular, frank conversations with regional stakeholders, including member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).The UK is committed to addressing risks surrounding hunger and starvation both in this region and globally, as demonstrated by the launch of our global food security and nutrition campaign as part of 2023 Integrated Review Refresh (IR2023).

Home Office: Grants

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published on 31 March 2022, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Grant.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: FCDO provided a range of grants for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2020-21 under a number of different programmes. FCDO programmes undergo a formal review of progress and effectiveness at regular intervals, and upon completion, using an agreed results framework, and are monitored and reviewed throughout their lifetime. Annual and Project Closure Reviews are published here: https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/.FCDO engages systematically with multilateral partners, such as UNHCR, as members of their governing bodies, and through regular bilateral engagement. This provides us with the opportunity to monitor and scrutinise the organisation's strategic performance, and matters relating to effectiveness can be raised through these channels.

Cabinet Office

Cabinet: Disability

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Disability Strategy published on 28 July 2021, which of his Department’s commitments in that strategy that have not been paused as a result of legal action have (a) been fully, (b) been partially and (c) not been implemented.

Alex Burghart: In January 2022, the High Court declared the National Disability Strategy (NDS) was unlawful because the UK Disability Survey, which informed it, was held to be a voluntary consultation that failed to comply with the legal requirements on public consultations.The Cabinet Office had 19 commitments set out in Part 3 of the NDS. These commitments, along with their implementation status, are set out in the table below.We remain fully committed to supporting disabled people in the UK through creating more opportunities, protecting their rights and ensuring they fully benefit from, and can contribute to, every aspect of our society. To support this, the Cabinet Office will be providing further details of our recent achievements to improve disabled people’s lives in the forthcoming Disability Action Plan consultation due for publication in the summer.Ahead of this, the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work will write providing a list of these achievements and will place a copy in the House Library.Cabinet Office commitments as set out in the National Disability Strategy Part 3 (2021)Status of commitmentBetter recognise the exceptional contribution of disabled people to the UK through the honours system.Partially implemented.Launch a new website and application system to transform how disabled people can access public appointments, alongside increased outreach with disability networks.Partially implemented.Develop a new principle that arm’s length bodies offer disabled non-executive directors on their boards the ability to do their duties remotely, if they so wish.Fully implemented.Ensure the exemplar accessibility of government buildings, through the work of the Government Property Agency.Partially implementedIntroduce legislation to require returning officers to consider the needs of people with a wide range of disabilities.Please see the reply of Dehenna Davison MP, on behalf of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) on 20 June 2023: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-06-15/189778Progress work to require landlords to make reasonable adjustments to the common parts of leasehold and commonhold homes.Not implemented.Run a campaign to help the public sector make mobile applications accessible, and raise awareness of how people can raise complaints about inaccessible websites.Fully implemented.Consult on workforce reporting on disability for large employers, exploring voluntary and mandated workplace transparency, and publish a set of next steps.Paused.Lead by example, taking further measures to make the Civil Service a brilliant place to work for disabled people, including timely workplace adjustments, support for staff disability networks and continuing to grow our multi-award winning work experience and development programmes.Fully implemented.Lead a multi-year programme to improve the availability, quality, relevance and comparability of government disability data.Not implemented.Leverage government’s procurement spend to drive better outcomes for disabled people.Fully implemented.Review our approach to ensure we are engaging in the best ways and with a sufficiently diverse group of disabled people.Paused.Explore the establishment of a world-leading Centre for Assistive and Accessible Technology.Paused.Expand the Disability and Access Ambassadors programme.Fully Implemented.Assess the assistive and accessible technology needs of disabled people in England.Fully implemented.Through the Central Digital and Data Office, deliver a single government account for users’ personal and business needs, benefitting many disabled people.Partially implemented.Improve the accessibility of government communications.Partially implemented.Work across government to drive further action on crime, accessible products and services and social participation.Not implemented.Through Places for Growth, help create a fully inclusive and diverse workforce for the long term, not the short term, and developing talent opportunities across the Regions and Nations of the UK.Partially implemented.

Regulation: Public Bodies

Richard Fuller: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will provide a list of all public bodies that have been delegated powers to (a) make amend or revoke, (b) enforce and (c) monitor compliance with regulations.

Richard Fuller: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy for all Departments to publish a list of all their associated public bodies that have been delegated power to (a)make amend or revoke, (b) enforce and (c) monitor compliance with regulations.

Jeremy Quin: The Cabinet Office publishes a list of public bodies classified as arm’s length bodies, the public bodies directory, which includes whether an organisation performs a regulatory function. The arm’s length bodies which departments have flagged as performing a regulatory function through the most recent public bodies directory data collection are: Agriculture and Horticulture Development BoardAnimal and Plant Health AgencyBritish Hallmarking CouncilCare Quality CommissionCharity Commission for England & WalesCivil Justice CouncilCivil Service CommissionCoal AuthorityCommission on Human MedicinesCompetition and Markets AuthorityCopyright TribunalEducation and Skills Funding AgencyEnvironment AgencyEquality and Human Rights CommissionFood Standards AgencyForestry CommisionGambling CommissionGangmasters and Labour Abuse AuthorityHealth and Safety ExecutiveHealth Education EnglandHealth Research AuthorityHistoric Buildings and Monuments Commission for EnglandHuman Fertilisation and Embryology AuthorityHuman Tissue AuthorityIndependent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights AgreementsIndependent Office for Police ConductInformation Commissioner's OfficeInsolvency ServiceLegal Services BoardMarine Management OrganisationMaritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory AgencyNatural EnglandNHS Improvement (includes Monitor and TDA)Northern Ireland Human Rights CommissionNuclear Decommissioning AuthorityOffice for Environmental ProtectionOffice for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (OFSTED)Office for StudentsOffice of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem)Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (OFQUAL)Office of Rail and RoadOffice of the Immigration Services CommissionerOil and Gas Authority (now called the North Sea Transition Authority)Parades Commission for Northern IrelandPensions OmbudsmanPlanning InspectorateRegulator of Social HousingSchool Teachers’ Review BodySea Fish Industry AuthoritySecurity Industry AuthoritySingle Source Regulations OfficeSmall Business CommissionerSocial Work EnglandSports Grounds Safety AuthorityThe Housing OmbudsmanThe Pensions RegulatorThe Statistics Board, publicly known as the UK Statistics AuthorityTheatres TrustTraffic CommissionersTrinity HouseUK Hydrographic OfficeUK Space AgencyValuation Tribunal for EnglandValuation Tribunal ServiceVeterinary Medicines DirectorateWater Services Regulation Authority (OFWAT)

Public Sector: Procurement

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of disqualifying late-paying companies from public procurement contracts.

Alex Burghart: The Government understands the critical importance of prompt, fair and effective payment to all businesses, helping them grow and thrive. Since 1 September 2019, suppliers already risk being excluded from winning large government contracts if they cannot demonstrate prompt payment to their supply chains. Suppliers must now demonstrate they pay 90% of their invoices within 60 days or be excluded, and provide an action plan for improvement if they are not paying 95% within 60 days, or risk similarly being excluded.

Cabinet Office: Vodafone Group

Apsana Begum: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment their Department has made of the potential effect of the merger between Three and Vodafone on their Department's contracts with Vodafone.

Alex Burghart: As an open economy, we welcome investment where it supports UK growth and jobs, meets our stringent legal and regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security. The Government has robust powers under the National Security & Investment Act to block or impose remedies on transactions that pose a national security risk. As you will appreciate, we cannot comment on specific acquisitions nor the applicability of the National Security and Investment regime. It is the responsibility of Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to assess the impact on consumers and competition in the market, with input from sectoral regulators.The Investment Security Unit works closely with the Competition and Markets Authority on cases that are being considered for both national security and competition reasons. A memorandum of understanding has been agreed between the Investment Security Unit and the CMA to assist joint working. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/operation-of-the-national-security-and-investment-act-2021-memorandum-of-understanding/mou-between-beis-and-the-cma-on-the-operation-of-the-national-security-and-investment-act-2021

Blood: Contamination

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to extend infected blood compensation payments to the children of people affected who died before they were able to receive payment.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to extend compensation payments to the children of people affected by the infected blood scandal who died before they were able to receive payment.

Jeremy Quin: The recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry’s second interim report are still under consideration by the Government. I recognise this is a matter of great importance to many in this House, and I was grateful for the opportunity to update the House on this on 22 June.

Civil Servants: Pay

Sir Alan Campbell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reasons the cost of living bonus for civil servants is pro rata.

Jeremy Quin: Civil Service pay below the Senior Civil Service is delegated to individual departments to determine, subject to adherence with the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance which is a cost control document. An Addendum to the 2023/24 Pay Remit Guidance was issued on 2 June 2023 to enable departments to make a one-off payment of £1500 per full-time employee. The Addendum stated that departments should have regard to their policies on part time working and making the non-consolidated payment on a pro rata basis.

King Charles III: Anniversaries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans his Department has made for the celebrations of His Majesty the King’s 75th birthday in November 2023.

Alex Burghart: It is not customary for the Cabinet Office to make plans to celebrate the 75th birthday of a Monarch, as seen with the late HM Queen Elizabeth II’s 75th birthday celebrations. However, the Sovereign's birthday was officially celebrated by the ceremony of Trooping the Colour (King's Birthday Parade) on Saturday 17th June 2023. The Ministry of Defence also fires gun salutes every year for The King's birthday on 14th November. Equally, I am sure that, like me, he welcomed the wonderful weekend of celebrations for His Majesty the King’s Coronation last month, which were a triumph of pomp, pageantry and pride in Britain.

Department of Health and Social Care

Department of Health and Social Care: Vodafone Group

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications of the Three-Vodafone merger on his Department’s contracts with Vodafone.

Will Quince: As an open economy, this Government welcomes and encourages investment where it supports the Prime Minister’s goal of boosting UK growth and jobs, meets our stringent legal and regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security. The Government has robust powers under the National Security & Investment Act, which it introduced to block or impose remedies on transactions that pose a national security risk.We cannot comment on specific acquisitions nor the applicability of the National Security and Investment regime.It is the responsibility of Competition and Markets Authority to assess the impact on consumers and competition in the market, with input from sectoral regulators.The Investment Security Unit works closely with the Competition and Markets Authority on cases that are being considered for both national security and competition reasons. A memorandum of understanding has been agreed between the Investment Security Unit and the Competition and Markets Authority to assist joint working. The notice is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/operation-of-the-national-security-and-investment-act-2021-memorandum-of-understanding/mou-between-beis-and-the-cma-on-the-operation-of-the-national-security-and-investment-act-2021

Rheumatology: Training

Greg Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps his Department is taking to help increase the number of (a) doctors, (b) nurses and (c) Allied Health Professionals entering specialist rheumatology training.

Will Quince: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 May 2023 to Question 185980.

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

Paula Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency international recognition framework, starting on 1 January 2024, on the average time taken for medicines to become available to NHS patients.

Paula Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's preparedness for quickly assessing new medicines licensed through the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's international recognition framework that will be in place from 1 January 2024.

Will Quince: The new international recognition framework will allow the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to make the most of the expertise and decision-making of trusted regulatory partners to streamline assessments of specific products. As a result, cutting-edge medicines that have been approved in other countries will be licensed in the United Kingdom more quickly. The MHRA will continue to closely engage with key stakeholder groups in the development of their International Recognition Framework.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is committed to publishing guidance on new medicines close to the point of licensing wherever possible, and works closely with the MHRA to ensure that its appraisal timelines are aligned with the regulatory process. In 2022/23, NICE piloted a proportionate approach to health technology evaluation to drive rapid patient access to effective new medicines by optimising use of its appraisal capacity. NICE recommended five treatments through this proportionate approach, benefitting around 175,000 patients. For these topics, the appraisal process was completed 45% faster.The Government is working with NICE and MHRA to consider the need for further changes to ensure that it is able to issue timely guidance.

Cancer: Drugs

Paula Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which cancer medicines are being reviewed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency under Project Orbis as of 14 June 2023.

Will Quince: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) does not publish details on applications currently under review as this is considered commercially sensitive information. That said, details of the products approved by the MHRA under Project Orbis are published on the MHRA website available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-on-project-orbis#overview-of-orbis-project-approvals

Rheumatology: Psychology

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase access to specialised psychology services for rheumatology patients.

Helen Whately: All local integrated care boards are expected to commission NHS Talking Therapies services, which provide integrated psychological therapies for people with long-term health conditions, including rheumatic conditions. As highlighted in the specialist service specification for rheumatology, a multidisciplinary approach is expected, and rheumatology teams work closely with other specialties, often involving joint clinics, including psychology and psychiatry services.

Mental Health Services

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the right care, right person model on availability of staff for (a) mental health crisis and (b) other mental health services.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the number of cases that have been referred to the NHS under right care, right person model since its introduction.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the potential cost to the NHS of dealing with cases referred to clinical settings under the right care, right person model in each of the next five years.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of staffing requirements for dealing with cases referred under the right care, right person programme in each of the next five years; and whether those staffing requirements will be included in the NHS long-term workforce plan.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the Right Care, Right Person operational model on (a) social services for vulnerable people and (b) other local authority-run services.

Maria Caulfield: The Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) model was developed by Humberside police force. Where forces choose to adopt this approach, in partnership with health and social care partners, police will only respond to mental health incidents where there is a clear risk to life or serious harm. RCRP is not in itself a model for referring people to other agencies, but is principally a model for police in control rooms to triage calls. As such, we do not have information about how the model has impacted on the number of cases referred to the National Health Service in the areas where it is being operated. The Department is developing a National Partnership Agreement (NPA) with the National Police Chiefs' Council, NHS England, and the Home Office to set out the principles of Right Care Right Person and encourage a national roll-out. The NPA will provide a framework for local areas to adopt the principles of the RCRP approach, but implementation will be planned locally through partnerships with police forces, health bodies and local authorities, to ensure that patient safety is maintained and people in mental health crisis are not left without support. It will be up to local areas to identify exactly how they adopt the model. Police Chiefs are operationally independent, and moreover developing plans for implementation in partnership with local health and social care agencies will be crucial to the success of the rollout. NHS England are in the process of co-producing guidance with multi-agency professionals and people with lived experience of mental health problems to ensure that RCRP meets the needs of local vulnerable people. This local autonomy means that it is not possible to provide estimates for the information requested on costs and staffing requirements in the NHS, which will be determined differently in each area according to localised agreements and structures. For the same reason, it is not possible to provide an assessment of the impact of the model on social services and other local authority-run services. The Department has engaged with social care stakeholders in the development of the NPA, which will encourage police forces to work in partnership with social services to ensure the model is rolled out safely.

Department of Health and Social Care: Access to Work Programme

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether an Access to Work scheme has been implemented in their Department.

Will Quince: As of 1 April 2022, civil servants are no longer eligible for Access to Work support, this is in accordance with the guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-work-staff-guide/access-to-work-staff-guide Access to Work is a demand-led, personalised discretionary grant which contributes to the disability-related extra costs of working faced by disabled people and those with a health condition in the workplace that are beyond standard reasonable adjustments. It does not replace an employer’s duty under the Equality Act to make reasonable adjustments. In 2006, the Department for Work and Pensions took over responsibility for providing adjustments that would previously have been funded through Access to Work for civil servants working in their Department. This removed the need for the Department for Work and Pensions staff to apply for Access to Work. In April 2022, all Government Departments followed suit and assumed responsibility for providing such adjustments for their staff. We support our staff through a comprehensive Workplace Adjustments policy.

Cancer: Drugs

Paula Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which cancer medicines have received (a) an innovation passport and (b) other support under the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway; and if he will make an assessment of the impact of the pathway on the time taken for innovative treatments to become available to patients.

Will Quince: The Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) was launched in January 2021, and has seen strong interest from both small and large companies in a variety of therapeutic settings. Companies who successfully gain an Innovation Passport designation are able to apply for the next step; the Target Development Profile. There are currently 55 cancer drugs that have been awarded an innovation passport as part of the Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway. Eight of these products have accessed the Target Development Profile and a further seven are in progress.Holding an innovation passport is required to apply for Project Orbis. Project Orbis provides a framework for concurrent submission and review of oncology products among international partners, aiming to deliver faster patient access to innovative cancer treatments. 27 innovation passport holders have applied for Project Orbis.Following the McLean report there is ongoing work to ensure enhanced speed and efficiency of ILAP.

Mental Health: Preventive Medicine

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February to Question 139217 on Mental Health: Preventive Medicine, what progress NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have made on the development of a policy framework to assess digital health technologies.

Will Quince: The policy framework clarifying the market pathway for Digital Health Technologies will be published in autumn 2023. Several evaluations, through the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Early Value Assessment (EVA) have now been published, including technologies delivering digitally enabled therapy. A procurement platform has been established, via the London Procurement Partnership, for EVA recommended products.

NHS: Pay

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of not centrally funding pay rises for NHS staff employed by third parties on levels of staff retention.

Will Quince: No specific assessment has been made. Independent providers are free to develop and adapt their own terms and conditions of employment. This includes the pay scales that they use and any non-consolidated pay awards they choose to make. It is for them to determine what is affordable within the financial model they operate, and how to recoup any additional costs they face if they choose to utilise the terms and conditions of National Health Service staff on the Agenda for Change contract.

Out-patients: Finance

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will increase funding for outpatient (a) services and (b) staff training.

Will Quince: The Department does not currently have plans to increase funding specifically for outpatient services or staff training. Outpatient transformation and recovery is supported by the existing elective recovery funding package and we are working closely with NHS England to establish how best to support the National Health Service to transform the way they provide outpatient care.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to ensure that all Major Towns have both minor injury and emergency care units.

Will Quince: The commissioning of local services is a matter for the National Health Service, allocating funding to best meet patient needs locally. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of both full type one emergency departments and type three accident and emergency services, including those badged as Minor Injuries Units.As set out in the Delivery Plan for Recovering Urgent and Emergency Care, ICBs should determine where type three services will be most effectively located. We expect that decisions about all existing services should be concluded through 2023/24.

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

Paula Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency plans to consult representatives of (a) patient organisations and (b) the pharmaceutical industry on its plans for new regulatory recognition routes for medicines under the international recognition framework, starting on 1 January 2024.

Will Quince: Regarding the first part of the question on consultation with patient organisations, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) held a workshop on 3 November 2022 to obtain patient views on the MHRA’s proposals for a new International Recognition Framework. The MHRA intends to hold another patient workshop this Summer to discuss its proposals in further detail.Regarding consultation with members of the pharmaceutical industry, the MHRA has held a number of workshops and focus groups with Trade Associations and their members to generate insight from industry subject matter experts. This has included a workshop on the MHRA’s early-stage prototype for the recognition framework to obtain feedback on practical implications. The MHRA will continue to closely engage with key stakeholder groups in the development of its International Recognition Framework.

NHS: Pay

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is his Department's policy that healthcare staff on the Agenda for Change contract should receive the new pay settlement regardless if additional funding is provided.

Will Quince: All eligible staff should receive the payments agreed as part of the Agenda for Change deal. The pay offer to Agenda for Change staff, approved by a majority on the NHS Staff Council on 2 May, applied to staff directly employed by a National Health Service organisation as set out in Annex 1 of the NHS Employers handbook.Staff employed at independent providers or other organisations who utilise the Agenda for Change terms and conditions may also be entitled to both the non-consolidated pay award for 2022/23 and the consolidated pay award for 2023/24 that staff working for eligible NHS organisations will receive. These organisations should consider their contractual obligations and review their commissioning contracts to consider whether and how to recover any additional cost pressures they now face. Funding to non-centrally funded organisations will be uplifted through their usual funding routes to reflect the 2023/24 pay award.

Community Diagnostic Centres: Heart Diseases

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of community diagnostic centres offer echocardiogram tests.

Helen Whately: Since the first Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) opened in July 2021, 29 CDCs have offered echocardiogram (ECG) tests, delivering a total of 23,741 ECGs between them. This may include temporary sites, which provided additional capacity after the pandemic that have since been replaced or closed. We do not, therefore, hold data on the proportion of CDCs, which offer echocardiogram tests.As ECGs are part of the core test for all standard or large CDCs, the number of CDCs offering ECGs will grow over the next year as operational CDCs bring the full range of core tests on stream.

Dementia: Health Services

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2023 to Question 187332 on Health Services, whether the 10-year plan for dementia forms part of the materials informing the Major Conditions Strategy.

Helen Whately: The Major Conditions Strategy is being informed by materials gathered from previous listening exercises, including the 10-year plan for dementia. Those who responded to previous engagement exercises have the opportunity to input into the Call for Evidence issued on 17 May and to provide further insights and suggestions building on previous contributions.

Radiotherapy

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to help ensure that patients do not have travel journeys of more than 45 minutes when attending radiotherapy appointments.

Helen Whately: The travel a patient needs to undertake is dependent on the types of treatment needed on an individual case basis. Specialised services are not available in every local hospital because they have to be delivered by specialist teams of health professionals who have the necessary skills, experience and access to equipment and medicines. Patient-specific requirements are also based on what each individual could manage and cope with and would be discussed between the patient and clinician.

Radiotherapy

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of implementing a radiotherapy strategy on waiting times for cancer treatment.

Helen Whately: We have no current plans to make a specific assessment. From April 2022, the responsibility for investing in new radiotherapy machines sits with local health systems.

Radiotherapy: Innovation

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the latest technology is being used in radiotherapy treatments.

Helen Whately: Since 2016, around £162 million of central investment has been made to replace or upgrade around 100 radiotherapy machines so that every radiotherapy service has access to modern equipment capable of delivering innovative treatment techniques. This investment was in addition to the investment that National Health Service trusts make to maintain their infrastructure.NHS England is currently undertaking a stocktake of Life of Linear Accelerator (LINAC) age, which will be completed in summer 2023 and is working with partners to undertake a demand and capacity review which will complete in 2023/24. The output of this work will support local systems to plan for equipment replacement. This will also help in the continued roll out of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy, a highly targeted form of radiotherapy that is now available in the NHS.

Diabetes: Health Services

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to improve diabetes care in the Major Conditions Strategy.

Helen Whately: Action on diabetes will be included in the Major Conditions Strategy as it is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The strategy will aim to improve care and health outcomes for those living with multiple conditions and an increasingly complex set of needs.

Hospices: North West

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the budgetary settlement by the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board for hospices.

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the settlement decision of NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board not to grant additional funding to hospices on (a) patient care and (b) the financial sustainability of those hospices.

Helen Whately: No assessment has been made. The Government and NHS England recognises the importance of palliative and end of life care for patients and those important to them. Palliative and end of life care, including hospice care, is commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs) in response to the needs of their local population. Any assessment would therefore be made at a local level.With increasing costs and pressures and operational planning requirements from NHS England to reduce overspends, Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB has had to prioritise and focus funding on maintaining core services in the National Health Service.As part of this review of spending, a decision has been made to not financially uplift the funding to voluntary sector contracts in Lancashire and South Cumbria, and this includes hospices. The ICB has not cut its funding to the hospices and recognises the essential work they do to support local communities. However, the ICB has not at this stage in the year been able to allocate any inflationary uplift to the contracts.Discussions are ongoing and there are plans for the ICB to meet with the Lancashire and South Cumbria hospice leaders to discuss further.

Dementia: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the dementia diagnosis rate in the London Borough of Havering.

Helen Whately: In December 2022, the recovery of the dementia diagnosis rate to the national ambition of 66.7% was included in the National Health Service priorities and operational planning guidance as part of the refined mental health objectives for 2023/24. This reinforces the importance of dementia as a key priority for NHS England and provides a clear direction for integrated care boards to support delivery of timely diagnoses within systems.

Rheumatology: Buckinghamshire

Greg Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the provision of rheumatology care in Buckinghamshire in the last (a) 12 and (b) 24 months.

Greg Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to increase the number of NHS staff providing rheumatology care in the (a) Buckinghamshire, (b) Oxfordshire and (c) West Berkshire Integrated Care Board area and (d) England.

Helen Whately: No assessment has been made. Rheumatology services are generally commissioned locally by integrated care boards which have a statutory responsibility to commission healthcare services that meet the needs of their whole population.The Government has committed to publishing the Long-Term Workforce Plan shortly. This will include projections for the number of doctors, nurses and other professionals that will be needed. The plan will provide estimates of NHS workforce as a whole; however, it will not go into detail about condition-specific workforce, such as for rheumatology. The recruitment of staff for multi-disciplinary rheumatology teams is for local determination.

Radiotherapy

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will commission an independent review of the provision of radiotherapy services for cancer care.

Helen Whately: There are no plans to commission an independent review of the provision of radiotherapy services for cancer care. NHS England, as the accountable commissioner for radiotherapy services, is working with partners to undertake a demand and capacity review which will complete in 2023/24.

Medical Treatments: Equality

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce health inequalities for people with (a) rare, (b) genetic and (c) undiagnosed conditions in Enfield North constituency.

Helen Whately: It is the responsibility of integrated care systems to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population. England’s 2023 Rare Diseases Action Plan, that aims to improve the lives of those living with rare, genetic and undiagnosed conditions, includes a specific action to address health inequalities. This action is to gather the evidence needed to include rare diseases in NHS England’s Core20PLUS5 Framework. This will enable integrated care systems, including the North Central London integrated care board, to develop targeted actions to reduce these inequalities in their local populations. Additionally, the UK Rare Diseases Framework commits the four nations to ensure any impacts on health inequalities are considered when developing action plans for rare conditions.Genomics England will lead a programme to carry out tailored genomic sequencing of 15,000 to 25,000 research participants from diverse ancestry groups that are currently under-represented in genomic research. This will increase our understanding of genomic diversity and its impact on scientific, clinical and health system outcomes, aiming to reduce health inequalities, and improve patient outcomes across all communities.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority: Standards

Andrew Lewer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority as an independent regulator.

Maria Caulfield: The Public Bodies Review Programme began its review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) in March 2023, as part of its regular review process of all Government Arm’s Length Bodies. The review is due to conclude later this year. The Department will consider the report and its recommendations upon their publication.

Mental Health Services: Visual Impairment

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure equality of access to mental health services for blind and partially-sighted people.

Maria Caulfield: The Accessible Information Standard published by NHS England in 2016 sets out a specific, consistent approach to identifying, recording, flagging, sharing and meeting the information and communication support needs of patients, service users, carers and parents with a disability, impairment or sensory loss, including blind and partially-sighted people. NHS England is currently reviewing the Accessible Information Standard and will publish the updated standard in Summer 2023. The advancing mental health equalities strategy was published by NHS England in 2020 to identify and drive opportunities for improving that way that NHS mental health services meet the needs of groups at risk of, or already experiencing, inequalities.

Mental Health Services: Visual Impairment

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on the number of people with sight loss who have accessed NHS mental health support services between 1 January 2023 and 10 May 2023.

Maria Caulfield: The information requested is not held centrally.

IVF

Matt Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support couples access IVF treatment.

Maria Caulfield: The Women’s Health Strategy was published on 20 July 2022 and contained a number of important changes and future ambitions to improve the variations in access to National Health Service funded fertility services.We will improve access to in vitro fertilisation (IVF) by removing the additional financial burden on female same-sex couples accessing treatment. We will be working with NHS England to assess fertility provision across integrated care boards, which have responsibility for commissioning fertility services, with a view to removing non-clinical access criteria. We will also work with stakeholders to improve information provision on fertility and fertility treatments, including on the NHS website, and introduce greater transparency of the local provision of IVF.

Dental Services: Children

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that all children have access to dental health education before 31 December 2023.

Neil O'Brien: From 1 April 2023, responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of the local population, including for children, was delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England.Our plan for further reform of the NHS dental system is expected to be announced shortly to build on our reforms announced in July 2022. The plan will include how we can improve oral health outcomes for both adults and children for the longer term; how to improve access, particularly for new patients; and how to incentivise dental practices to deliver more NHS care. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities is leading a wide-ranging multi-agency programme focussing on improving children’s oral health. This sits alongside local authorities existing responsibilities for bringing forward oral health-based interventions for the general population, as needed in their local areas.

Dentistry

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to (a) retain and (b) train and recruit dentists.

Neil O'Brien: In July 2022, we announced a package of dental system improvements to increase access for National Health Service dental patients and make NHS dentistry more attractive to practices, including steps to support the dental workforce.NHS England negotiated amendments to the NHS dental contract to ensure dentists are remunerated more fairly for providing complex treatment within current Band 2 treatments, and enabling better use of skill mix in NHS dental practices.We have recently simplified the General Dental Council's (GDC) legislative framework for the registration of international dentists and dental care professionals to increase the dental workforce. The legislative changes came into force on 8 March 2023.Training programmes for healthcare professionals must meet the standards set by the regulatory body for their profession. The standard of training for dentists is the responsibility of the GDC who set the outcome standards expected at undergraduate level and approve courses and Higher Education Institutions to write and teach the curricula content that enables their students to meet the regulators outcome standardsWe will announce our plan for further reform of the NHS dental system shortly. To support the workforce as a whole, we have commissioned NHS England to develop a long-term workforce plan for the NHS workforce for the next 15 years to ensure that we have the right numbers of staff with the right skills to transform and deliver high quality services fit for the future.

Dental Services: Oxford West and Abingdon

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many dental practices in Oxford West and Abingdon constituency are not accepting new NHS patients.

Neil O'Brien: On 25 November 2022 we introduced a contractual responsibility for National Health Service dentists to keep their NHS.UK profiles up to date so that patients can find a dentist more easily. Practices are required to update their NHS.UK profiles at least once every 90 days, including information on whether they are accepting new patients. Information is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist

Vaping: Children

Matt Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle the sale of vapes to school children.

Neil O'Brien: Given the recent increase in children vaping, the Government launched a call for evidence to identify opportunities to reduce the number of children accessing and using vaping products. The call for evidence has now closed and we are currently analysing the responses. Following this, the Government will consider a range of options based on the evidence provided, including potential changes to vaping policy and regulation.In April 2023, the Government announced £3 million of funding for a new national illicit vaping enforcement unit to tackle illicit and underage vape sales across the country.The Prime Minister also recently announced several measures to address youth vaping, including closing a loophole that allows industry from giving out free samples to people of any age. The Government will also write to police forces to ensure dedicated school liaison officers across the country are aware of the Government's work on vaping and can make use of new resources to raise awareness of harms and the law, as well as supporting enforcement of school bans.

Electronic Cigarettes: Children

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of children using (a) e-cigarettes and (b) vaping products.

Neil O'Brien: We have regulations in place for nicotine containing vapes (e-cigarettes) to discourage underage vaping. The law protects children through restricting sales of vapes to over 18 year olds only, limiting nicotine content, refill bottle and tank sizes, labelling requirements and through advertising restrictions.However, given the changing circumstances surrounding vapes, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has launched a call for evidence to identify opportunities to reduce the number of children accessing and using vape products.The call for evidence has now closed. The Government is currently considering a range of options based on the evidence provided, including potential changes to vaping policy and regulations and extending regulations to include non-nicotine vaping products.In October 2022, we published new content on the potential risks of vaping for young people on the FRANK and Better Health websites and we have provided input to educational resources produced by partners including the PSHE Association. We will shortly be adding new resources for schools on OHID’s Schools Zone web platform.We are also developing a new resource pack for schools on vaping which will be made available by summer.

Electronic Cigarettes: Children

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the proportion of children between the ages of 11 and 15 who regularly used e-cigarettes in each year since 2018.

Neil O'Brien: Data on the proportion of children aged 11 to 15 year olds who are regular vapers is available in the Smoking, Drinking and Drug use among Young People in England publication. This is normally a biennial publication, however, the 2020 edition was delayed, therefore data is only available for 2018 and 2021. In 2018, 2% of 11 to 15 year olds were regular vapers. In 2021, 4% of 11 to 15 year-olds were regular vapers.

Hearing Impairment

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps to improve the testing and diagnosis of hearing impairment conditions in NHS hospitals.

Neil O'Brien: The Government is taking a number of steps to improve the testing and diagnosis of hearing impairment conditions in National Health Service hospitals. NHS England is working to improve diagnostic services, including audiology, through its National Diagnostic Transformation Programme. Under the programme, a national data collection for audiology services is being coordinated from June 2023. The data collected will capture activity related to waiting times, equipment, workforce, facilities, and digital. The results from this will inform service improvement and future workforce planning at local, regional, and national level.There is currently a small number of audiology services across England that are commissioned to accept self-referrals. NHS England is aiming to expand direct access and self-referral where general practitioner involvement is not clinically necessary, including for hearing aid services, through the Delivery Plan for Recovering Access to Primary Care and the 2023/24 Priorities and Operating Planning guidance.During 2023/34 NHS England will also be reinforcing the improvement guide ‘Approaches to Addressing Audiology Waiting Times’, which was developed for local integrated care systems in December 2022, through shared learning webinars.

Hospitals: Asbestos

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to remove asbestos from hospitals.

Will Quince: The Government provided £4.2 billion capital last financial year for the National Health Service to support local priorities, including to maintain and refurbish their premises, and a further £8.4 billion will be available over this financial year and next.NHS England continues to work with trusts to ensure their estates are a safe environment for patients and staff. Where asbestos may pose a safety risk, such as when disturbed during building works, experts are brought in to safely dispose of it.

Department for Business and Trade

Trade Agreements: Australia and New Zealand

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the economic impact of the free-trade deals with (a) Australia and (b) New Zealand as of 14 June 2023.

Nigel Huddleston: The Department’s impact assessments of the UK-Australia and UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) were published on 17th December 2021 and 28th February 2022 respectively. These impact assessments set out the potential long-run incremental economic impact of these FTAs and are available on gov.uk. As the agreements only entered in force since 31st May 2023 it would not be credible or proportionate to assess the economic impact to date.

Trade Agreements: Malaysia

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department plans to take to enhance trade relations with Malaysia.

Nigel Huddleston: In March 2023, the Government announced the substantial conclusion of negotiations on the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Once the agreement enters into force, the UK will have its first formal trade agreement with Malaysia, and we will work with Malaysia to help businesses realise the benefits of CPTPP. Our inaugural bilateral Joint Economic Trade Committee (JETCO) is planned for later this year, through which we will seek to promote and enhance trade, investment and economic cooperation between the UK and Malaysia, including addressing trade barriers affecting business between the two countries.

Official Visits: Malaysia

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she plans to visit Malaysia.

Nigel Huddleston: DBT Ministers are planning to visit Malaysia in the coming months to promote greater bilateral trade and economic co-operation. Timing will be dependent on various factors, including both Malaysian and UK Ministerial availability.

Department for Business and Trade: Vodafone Group

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment their Department has made of the potential effect of the merger between Three and Vodafone on their Department's contracts with Vodafone.

Kevin Hollinrake: As an open economy, this Government welcomes and encourages investment where it supports the Prime Minister’s goal of boosting UK growth and jobs, meets our stringent legal and regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security. The Government has robust powers under the National Security & Investment Act, which it introduced, to block or impose remedies on transactions that pose a national security risk. As you will appreciate, we cannot comment on specific acquisitions nor the applicability of the National Security and Investment regime. It is the responsibility of Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to assess the impact on consumers and competition in the market, with input from sectoral regulators.

Exports: Notifiable Diseases

Robert Courts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the potential impact of notifiable disease outbreaks on exports.

Nigel Huddleston: The Secretary of State for Business and Trade maintains regular dialogue with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on a wide range of issues relating to agriculture and trade. The government will continue to prioritise trade facilitation in our FTAs to benefit UK exports.

Paternity Leave

Claire Hanna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the report by Pregnant Then Screwed entitled Leave in the Lurch, Paternity Leave, Gender Equality and the UK Economy, published on 15 June 2023; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the rate of Statutory Paternity Leave.

Kevin Hollinrake: The Government has not made an assessment of this report. As set out in our Manifesto, the Government is committed to making it easier for father and partners to take Paternity Leave. In 2019, we also consulted on high-level options and principles for reforming the parental leave and pay system. We have analysed the responses to the consultation and will publish our response in due course. The standard rate of Statutory Paternity Pay is reviewed annually. From April 2023, it increased by September's Consumer Price Index figure of 10.1 per cent to £172.48.

Home Office

Immigration and Visas: Applications

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to ensure that (a) all (i) visa and (ii) other immigration applications are processed within 12 months, unless there are exceptional circumstances requiring a longer processing time, and (b) whether she has a target date for completion of all such applications that have not been processed within 12 months.

Robert Jenrick: Visa and immigration applications have agreed service standards for straightforward applications which provides customers with a level of expectation of how long it should take UK Visas and Immigration to process their applications whether they were submitted inside or outside the UK. These can be found on the Gov.uk webpage: Customer service standards - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).We are taking immediate action to accelerate decision-making and rapidly speed up processing times to eliminate the backlog of legacy initial asylum decisions by the end of 2023. Separate work is ongoing to more efficiently process all other asylum claims admitted to the UK asylum system awaiting consideration.The Home Office Transparency data sets out how the department is performing against its service standard, which can be found on the GOV.UK webpage: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Asylum: Applications

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to table Asy_09a of the Asylum and Resettlement Summary tables for the year ending March 2023, for what reasons there was an increase in the number of asylum applications admitted into the UK’s asylum process having previously been considered potentially inadmissible in the first quarter of 2023.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office does not routinely record reasons why each individual was admitted to the UK asylum process and this information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Asylum: Applications

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure asylum seekers are given accurate information on the (a) expected processing times for and (b) progress of their applications.

Robert Jenrick: The Prime Minister made an announcement on the 13 December 2022 committing to clear the backlog of legacy asylum claims, those made before 28 June 2022, by the end of 2023. Separate work is underway to process all other asylum claims awaiting consideration, as laid out in the ministerial written statement of 8 June 2023. We are developing a portal which will enable asylum seekers to access real time updates on their case. An early version of this has been in test with representatives and we are looking to develop its usage and build the asylum seeker aspects during the latter part of this year.

Home Office: Disability

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the National Disability Strategy published on 28 July 2021, which of her Department’s commitments in that strategy that have not been paused as a result of legal action have (a) been fully, (b) been partially and (c) not been implemented.

Chris Philp: In January 2022, the High Court declared the National Disability Strategy (NDS) was unlawful because the UK Disability Survey, which informed it, was held to be a voluntary consultation that failed to comply with the legal requirements on public consultations.The Home Office had 4 policies included in the National Disability Strategy. These included:Tackle the accessibility skills gap:A cross-government digital accessibility profession has been defined and fully implemented:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/accessibility-specialistA paper called Accessibility in Procurement has been drafted by a cross-government team of procurement, digital, disability and other experts​ and continues to progress and is therefore partially implemented. The Home Office and DHSC will jointly lead a review into the protections and support available to adults abused in their own homes by people providing their care, coordinating inputs from wider government, disabled people, carers organisations and other interested parties.This has been fully implemented as the Safe Care at Home Review has now been published. We will continue to work with stakeholders and wider government to improve the support and protections available to people with care and support needs who are at risk of, or are being abused in their own home by the people providing their care.All 3 security agencies – MI5, MI6 and GCHQ – will ensure that our workforce will be fully representative of wider society we serve by 2030.This commitment is ongoing. In 2021, the Home Office will publish a new cross-government strategy to tackle the crime and disorder that undermines the quality of life for everyone. This will include tackling hate crime, of which tackling disability hate crime will be an integral part. The Home Office commits to work with disabled people and other disability stakeholders to develop the new strategy for publication in the autumn. This commitment has not been implementedWe will not publish a new Hate Crime Strategy because the Government is focussing on improving the police response to all crime. This approach represents the best use of public money. We remain committed to continuing to protect all communities from crime.Our absolute priority is to get more police into our streets, cut crime, protect the public and bring more criminals to justice. We are supporting police by providing them with the resources they need. This has included the recruitment of 20,000 extra police officers.We remain fully committed to supporting disabled people in the UK through creating more opportunities, protecting their rights and ensuring they fully benefit from, and can contribute to, every aspect of our society. To support this, The Home Office will be providing further details of our recent achievements to improve disabled people’s lives in the forthcoming Disability Action Plan consultation due for publication in the summer.Ahead of this, the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work will write providing a list of these achievements and will place a copy in the House Library.

Foreign Nationals: Deportation

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign nationals with a criminal record for driving offences were removed from the UK in each calendar year since 2019.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office does not publish data on returns from the UK broken down by offence type.The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of returns from the UK in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. The latest data on all returns from the UK is published in table Ret_D01 and the latest data on returns of Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) is published in table Ret_D03 of the ‘Returns detailed datasets’. The latest data goes up to the end of December 2022.Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. Data up to the end of March 2023 will be published on 24 August 2023.

Access to Work Programme

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether an Access to Work scheme has been implemented in their Department.

Chris Philp: Access to Work is a demand-led, personalised discretionary grant which contributes to the disability-related extra costs of working faced by disabled people and those with a health condition in the workplace that are beyond standard reasonable adjustments. It does not replace an employer’s duty under the Equality Act to make reasonable adjustments.In 2006, DWP took over responsibility for providing adjustments that would previously have been funded through Access to Work, for civil servants working in their department. This removed the need for DWP staff to apply for Access to Work. In April 2022, all government departments followed suit and assumed responsibility for providing holistic assessments and adjustments for their staff.

Home Office: Grants

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published on 31 March 2022, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Provision for the UK Disaster Victim Identification Capability Grant.

Chris Philp: Disaster victim identification (DVI) is the internationally accepted term for the processes and procedures for recovering and identifying deceased people and human remains in multiple fatality incidents. DVI takes place concurrently with investigations into the cause of an incident and into any criminal culpability arising from it.In the UK, this capability is delivered by the Metropolitan Police. The UK-DVI capability is funded by Home Office, with contributions towards costs from FCDO and the Northern Ireland Department of Justice. Home Office monitors the payment of the funding every year upon submission of the invoice. In 20-21 the funding was capped at £340,000.

Police: Video Recordings

James Daly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has held discussions with law enforcement agencies on members of the public filming (a) police officers and (b) police station car parks.

James Daly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there are regulatory (a) provisions and (b) other measures in place on public filming of police officers during the performance of their duties which is intended to harassorintimidate those officers.

Chris Philp: Policing by its very nature can be a demanding job. The wellbeing of our police is a priority for this Government and it is vital that we protect our officers from any form of harassment, abuse or assault as they work bravely to protect our communities. We will continue to work closely with policing partners and help Chief Constables in their duty to support their workforce effectively.There are no provisions in place which prohibit an individual from taking photographs or filming in public places. This extends to the filming of police officers and buildings unless the behaviour of the person filming represents a genuine security risk or risk to the personal information of staff to be misused.Whilst individuals are not prohibited from filming in public places, behaviour which intentionally causes harassment, alarm or distress is prohibited under the Public Order Act 1986. The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 also makes it a criminal offence to pursue a course of conduct amounting to harassment. Whether these offences apply to individual cases will depend on the circumstances.The NPCC have released national guidance on persons recording police in public spaces. This also sets out the legislation that does apply when the officers suspect terrorism: NPCC Guidance.The College of Policing have also published guidance as part of their Media Relations APP and the Public Order APP.

Home Office: Grants

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published on 31 March 2022, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the EIF Trauma-Informed Training Research Grant.

Chris Philp: The Home Office commissioned research from the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) in October 2021 to better understand how Violence Reduction Units (VRUs) deliver TI (Trauma Informed) training, and specify the models used to support further rigorous evaluation. The EIF has since been re-named ‘Foundations’ following its merger with ‘What Works for Children’s Social Care’. The research is published on the EIF’s website.The EIF research was effective and informed the design of the recent Youth Endowment Fund Trauma Informed Practice Grant Round (launched September 2022), which is co-funded by the Home Office. This grant round will evaluate what impact TI practice has on preventing children and young people’s involvement in violence.

Travellers

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2023 to Question 173047 on Travellers, whether she plans to review the Equality Impact Assessment for the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.

Chris Philp: The measures relating to unauthorised encampments in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 will be subject to the normal post-legislative review three to five years after Royal Assent. This will include a review of the Equality Impact Assessment.The current overarching equality impact assessment was published in September 2021 and is publicly available. Home Office measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill: Equalities Impact Assessment - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Motor Vehicles: Ownership

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of requiring that scrapyards check the ownership of a vehicle before processing it.

Chris Philp: The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 requires a scrap metal dealer or motor salvage operator to verify the identity of those selling scrap metal to them, and record details of the metal purchased.Receipt of scrap metal by the scrap metal dealer or motor salvage operator without such verification is an offence.Guidance issued by the Home Office states that if the dealer is uncertain about the provenance of an item, for example if the person selling it cannot provide documentation confirming ownership or purchase, it is good practice for the dealer to delay payment in order to verify the provenance of the item.There are currently no plans to amend the 2013 Act.

Home Office: Grants

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published on 31 March 2022, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Police Crime Prevention Initiatives support to Safer Streets Fund Delivery Grant.

Chris Philp: In 2020/21, the Home Office provided a grant of £145,080 to the Police Crime Prevention Initiative (PCPI) to provide support to the delivery of the first round of the Safer Streets Fund (SSF).Funding supported the development of practical implementation guides that were shared with forces and Police and Crime Commissioners as well as peer review support to all SSF practitioners; Designing Out Crime Officer (DOCO) training; SSF workshops and tailored support to bid areas aimed at driving general upskilling across practitioners’ crime prevention initiatives.The Home Office continues to work closely with the PCPI to ensure effective delivery of the Fund. This grant award supports the Home Office priority to cut crime, protect vulnerable people and communities.

Batteries: Lithium

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department is taking steps to raise public awareness of the potential fire risk of lithium batteries in residential buildings.

Chris Philp: The Home Office is working with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and London Fire Brigade on the fire safety impacts of the increased use of lithium-ion batteries in the home.In November each year, the Fire Kills campaign works with Electrical Safety First to run Electrical Fire Safety Week to promote messages on safe use of electrical goods and appliances. Working in partnership with the NFCC, the Home Office also provides resources and information to support delivery of fire prevention by local fire and rescue services.

Drugs: Organised Crime

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 59.g of the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, updated on 17 May, what discussions she has had with stakeholders on the introduction of the new offence of cuckooing .

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) research she has commissioned and (b) information her Department holds on the (i) prevalence and (ii) impact of cuckooing in vulnerable communities.

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, which (a) organisations and (b) other stakeholders her Department plans to consult on the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals for a new cuckooing offence.

Chris Philp: The Government fully recognises the serious impact that persistent Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) can have on both individuals and the wider community. The ASB Action Plan, published on 27 March, commits to tackling ASB across five key themes: 1) stronger punishment, 2) making communities safer, 3) building local pride, 4) prevention and early intervention, 5) improving data, reporting and accountability for action.As part of the plan, which is backed by £160m of funding, we are committed to tackling the exploitation and degrading behaviour that is associated with cuckooing. The targeted stakeholder engagement exercise commenced in the Spring of 2023 and is ongoing. We are engaging on the potential merits and scope of a new offence with a variety of key stakeholders such as the police, CJS partners, local authorities, other Government departments, specialists in the field and the Devolved Governments.There is no centrally held data on the number of cuckooed properties. The National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC) regularly coordinates weeks of intensive action against county lines gangs, in which all police forces take part. The most recent week of intensification, which took place between 27th February to 5th March 2023, saw 887 cuckooed properties visited.

Youth Mobility Scheme: EU Countries

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress he has made on negotiating bilateral youth mobility schemes with countries in Europe.

Robert Jenrick: We remain open to negotiating youth mobility scheme (YMS) arrangements with other countries and territories. However, as each YMS is subject to a bilateral, reciprocal agreement which also provides benefit to UK nationals, with the detail negotiated and agreed between the relevant parties, we are unable to disclose the status of negotiations as they occur.We remain committed to expanding our YMS to more nations, including but not limited to those within the EU. Further details of any additional YMS agreements will be announced once they are concluded.

Home Office: Grants

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published on 31 March 2022, what assessment her Department has made on the effectiveness of the Football Supporters Association fans embassies Grant.

Chris Philp: No grant was made in 2020/21 as no overseas England or Wales international matches were played with fans present due to the Covid-19 pandemic.In 2021/22 the Home Office agreed a grant of £45,900 with the FSA to provide advice and support to reduce the risk of violence and disorder involving England and Wales fans overseas, encourage self-policing, and reduce the risk of fans being a victim of crime. The England and Wales national teams played fewer overseas international matches than usual, and those played prior to October 2021 were without travelling fans in attendance (due to the Covid-19 pandemic) so £17,378 of the agreed amount was claimed.This grant awards support the Home Office priority to cut crime, protect vulnerable people and communities.

Home Office: Grants

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published on 31 March 2022, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Afghan Locally Engaged Staff Ex-Gratia Scheme 2021-22 Grant.

Robert Jenrick: Through the Ex-Gratia Scheme we relocated c.1,400 people including Locally Engaged Staff and their immediate families to the UK.The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), announced on 29 December 2020 and launched on 1 April 2021, was established to follow on from and replace the Ex-Gratia Scheme which ran until November 2022, at which point the ARAP became the single route for relocation.The provision of integration support by local authorities to those relocated to the UK under ARAP accommodation by local authorities is detailed in funding instructions which can be found here. These funding instructions set out the conditions under which the funding is disbursed, the outcomes required and the processes to be followed to claim funds. They also provide more detailed definitions of eligibility.These funding instructions also outline how the provision of support is to be evaluated and monitored. Both the 2022/23 and 2023/24 integration support funding instructions make clear that local authorities themselves should manage and administer the quality and level of delivery in relation to the support it provides to beneficiaries under the Afghan Schemes.

Asylum: Women

Tonia Antoniazzi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support women who have sought asylum.

Robert Jenrick: Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute are eligible for support under section 95 of the Immigration & Asylum 1999 Act. The support provided usually consists of accommodation with utility bills and council tax paid and a weekly allowance to meet other essential living needs including food and non-alcoholic drink. All asylum seekers have access to free NHS care.

Department for Work and Pensions

Maternity Pay: Self-employed

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending statutory maternity pay to self-employed people.

Mims Davies: There are no plans to extend Statutory Maternity Pay to self-employed people. Statutory Maternity Pay forms part of a package of employment rights and protections available specifically to the employed. These rights do not extend to the self-employed because of the difference in the nature of the employment. Women who are self-employed and expecting, can apply for Maternity Allowance to support them to take a break from their business prior to, and after, giving birth.

Maternity Pay

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he is taking steps with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade to raise awareness among new mothers of all employment status types about their rights to maternity pay.

Mims Davies: Information about Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance entitlement is available on GOV.UK. Some employers however may choose to offer more than the statutory minimum required, sometimes referred to as Occupational Maternity Pay. This is a matter between employer and employee.

Maternity Pay

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he is taking steps to ensure that all new mothers have access to maternity pay.

Mims Davies: All employed women who satisfy the eligibility criteria are entitled to receive Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) from their employer. Employed women who are not entitled to SMP, and self-employed women, can claim for Maternity Allowance (MA) from the Department for Work and Pensions. The qualifying conditions for both SMP and MA are generally based on a woman's recent employment and earnings. Information on the eligibility criteria for SMP and MA can be found on GOV.UK.

Department for Work and Pensions: EU Law

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department holds searchable IT archives (a) of Regulatory Impact Analysis estimates for EU-sourced regulation and (b) employing the search term out of scope relating to changes to regulatory burdens that could not be reviewed due to its EU origin.

Mims Davies: The Department does not hold searchable IT archives in respect of Regulatory Impact Analysis estimates. However, all available regulatory impact assessments should be publicly accessible on legislation.gov.uk, alongside the relevant piece of legislation.

Maternity Pay: Minimum Wage

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the rate of statutory maternity pay to the level of the national minimum wage.

Mims Davies: The standard rate of Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is reviewed annually. From April 2023, we increased the rate of SMP by September's CPI figure of 10.1 per cent to £172.48. There are no plans to review the rate of SMP outside of the annual uprating process.

Department for Work and Pensions: Vodafone Group

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment their Department has made of the potential effect of the merger between Three and Vodafone on their Department's contracts with Vodafone.

Mims Davies: The Department has assessed whether the merger constitutes a risk to service and whether the contract documentation needs to be updated. We are also awaiting advice from Cabinet Office regarding any wider significance to the merger. We are content no further action is required pending the Cabinet Office advice.

Housing Benefit: Cost of Living Payments

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing people on housing benefits to claim Cost of Living payments.

Mims Davies: Housing Benefit is not an income replacement benefit; it is intended to cover only housing costs.Those with the lowest incomes would be able to claim a qualifying means-tested benefit alongside Housing Benefit to cover their other living costs, which would make them eligible for a Cost of Living PaymentHousing Benefit is administered by Local Authorities, and is sometimes paid directly to a landlord. Payments to those receiving only Housing Benefit could not therefore be delivered in a quick, accurate and straightforward manner.For those who require additional support the Government is providing an additional £1 billion of funding, including Barnett impact, to enable a further extension to the Household Support Fund in England.In England, this will run from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, backed by £842m.Local Authorities use the Fund to help households with the cost of essentials, and they are expected to help households in the most need, particularly those who may not be eligible for the other support the government has recently made available.

Universal Credit: Enfield North

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Universal Credit deductions for (a) households and (b) households with children in Enfield North constituency there were from (i) March 2022 to February 2023, (ii) March 2021 to February 2022 and (iii) March 2020 to February 2021.

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households had a Universal Credit deduction in Enfield North constituency from (a) March 2022 to February 2023, (b) March 2021 to February 2022 and (c) March 2020 to February 2021; and how many children lived in such households in each of those periods.

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was taken from Universal Credit payments to households subject to a benefit deduction in Enfield North constituency in (a) March 2020 to February 2021, (b) March 2021 to February 2022 and (c) March 2022 to February 2023.

Guy Opperman: The primary aim of the Universal Credit deductions policy is to protect vulnerable claimants by providing a last resort repayment method for arrears of essential services. In recent years, the standard UC deduction cap has been reduced twice – from 40% to 30% of the Standard Allowance in October 2019, and down to 25% in April 2021. From April 2020 to July 2020, a temporary freeze on government and third party deductions was introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The requested information is provided in the separate spreadsheet.Attachment (xlsx, 163.9KB)

Department for Education

Schools: Uniforms

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what financial assistance (a) her Department and (b) schools provide to families on low incomes to help support them with the cost of school (i) uniforms and (ii) sports kits.

Nick Gibb: Rather than subsiding expensive uniform policies with financial assistance, the Department published statutory guidance on the cost of school uniform to ensure uniform is affordable for all families. The guidance came into force in September 2022 and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms/cost-of-school-uniforms.Schools must have regard to this guidance when designing and implementing their uniform policy and PE and Sport kit. The guidance requires schools to ensure that their uniform is affordable and secures best value for money for parents.There is no specific funding for schools to support low income families with the cost of uniform, but schools may offer additional support in cases of financial hardship where they choose to do so.The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living which is why it is providing £94 billion to support households with high costs across the 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years. This includes the Energy Price Guarantee, which is capping typical household bills at £2,500 until the end of June, as well as additional cost of living payments of up to £900 for eligible households on means tested benefits and funding to help with the cost of household essentials.In addition, the Government has provided over £2.6 billion of pupil premium funding in the 2022/23 financial year to support pupils from lower income families. Rates will increase by 5% for 2023/24, taking total pupil premium funding to £2.9 billion.

Schools: Water

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many state-funded schools have temporarily closed due to water shortages since December 2019; and which schools were affected.

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many state-funded schools have been (a) temporarily or (b) permanently closed due to sewage leaks since December 2019; and which schools were affected.

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) classrooms and (b) buildings in state-funded schools have been (i) temporarily or (ii) permanently closed due to sewage leaks since December 2019; and which schools were affected.

Nick Gibb: Schools and their responsible bodies are not obliged to report school closures to the Department, including those due to water shortages or sewage leaks. For this reason, the Department does not hold the information requested.These issues are often dealt with locally and, where applicable, using insurance providers.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Helen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to tackle funding gaps between rural and urban National Funding Formula Allocations per pupil.

Nick Gibb: Funding for mainstream schools and high needs is £3.5 billion higher in 2023/24, compared to 2022/23. That is on top of the £4 billion, year on year increase provided in 2022/23, an increase of £7.5 billion, or over 15%, in just two years. This takes total funding for both mainstream schools and high needs to £57.3 billion in 2023/24.The schools National Funding Formula (NFF) distributes funding fairly, based on schools’ and pupils’ needs and characteristics, and as a result of this, not all areas or schools attract the same level of funding. It is not the purpose of the NFF to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. Instead, it is right that schools with more pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation, low prior attainment, or English as an additional language, receive extra funding to help them meet the needs of all their pupils.The Department appreciates that small schools in geographically challenging areas do not have the same opportunities to find efficiencies as those elsewhere. The sparsity factor in the NFF allocates additional funding specifically to these schools, without which pupils would have to travel a long way to get to school. £97 million has been allocated to small and remote schools through the sparsity factor in 2023/24, which is an increase from £26 million in the 2020/21 financial year.The amount of additional funding that small schools can attract in 2023/24 has increased to up to £56,300 for primary schools, and up to £81,900 for secondary schools. Since 2022/23, the Department has been measuring schools’ remoteness more accurately, by road distances. This has led to a significant increase in the number of schools eligible for sparsity funding, with over 2,500 schools now eligible.

Stonewall: Schools

Nick Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has provided guidance to schools on whether they should enter into formal partnerships with Stonewall.

Nick Gibb: Both the Relationships Sex and Health Education (RSHE) statutory guidance and the Department’s ‘Political impartiality in schools’ guidance are clear that schools should assess external agencies thoroughly before agreeing to any work with them. This can include challenging or asking for evidence of claims made by external agencies about their work and how this interacts with schools’ legal duties on political impartiality.All schools should consult with parents on what is to be covered and ensure that they provide examples of the resources that they plan to use. This will give parents an opportunity to understand what will be taught and when, and to clarify how the resources being used will support delivery of the different aspects of the RSHE curriculum. This is particularly important where schools plan to work with external organisation and/or use their materials.On 31 March, the Secretary of State wrote to all schools to set out that, under current arrangements, schools can and should share curriculum materials with parents. The Department will consider, as part of the review of the RSHE statutory guidance, whether any further changes are needed to reinforce the need for transparency around RSHE materials.In May, the Secretary of State announced the details of the independent expert advisory panel who will advise on the review of the RSHE curriculum. The panel will provide expert advice to the Secretary of State on what is appropriate to be taught in RSHE and at what age.It will remain important that schools take full responsibility for ensuring lessons and materials are age appropriate, suitable, and politically impartial, particularly when using materials produced by external organisations.Oak National Academy, the independent provider of freely available online curriculum and lesson resources, will develop curriculum materials to make sure every school can access high quality, compliant RSHE resources.

Department for Education: Vodafone Group

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment their Department has made of the potential effect of the merger between Three and Vodafone on their Department's contracts with Vodafone.

Nick Gibb: As an open economy, the Government welcomes and encourages investment where it supports the Prime Minister’s goal of boosting UK growth and jobs, meets the stringent legal and regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security. The Government has robust powers under the National Security and Investment Act 2021, which it introduced, to block or impose remedies on transactions that pose a national security risk.The Department cannot comment on specific acquisitions nor the applicability of the National Security and Investment regime.It is the responsibility of Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to assess the effect on consumers and competition in the market, with input from sectoral regulators.The Investment Security Unit works closely with the CMA on cases that are being considered for both national security and competition reasons. A memorandum of understanding has been agreed between the Investment Security Unit and the CMA to assist joint working. This memorandum of understanding is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/operation-of-the-national-security-and-investment-act-2021-memorandum-of-understanding/mou-between-beis-and-the-cma-on-the-operation-of-the-national-security-and-investment-act-2021.

Primary Education: Boys

Nick Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has produced research on improving learning for boys at primary school.

Nick Gibb: The Government is committed to improving outcomes and raising attainment for all pupils no matter their gender. Attainment in the phonics screening check increased significantly for boys and girls between its introduction in 2012 and the last assessments before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. In 2019, 78% of boys and 85% of girls met the expected standard by Year 1 compared to 54% of boys and 62% of girls in 2012. In 2022, following the pandemic, attainment in the phonics screening check was down by 6% for both boys and girls. 72% of boys met the expected standard compared to 79% of girls. At Key Stage 2, the proportion of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths increased between 2016 and the last assessments before the pandemic in 2019. 65% of pupils met the expected standard in all three subjects in 2019 including 60% of boys and 70% of girls, compared to 53% in 2016 including 50% of boys and 56% of girls. In 2022, following the pandemic, attainment fell among both girls and boys in all subjects except reading; the fall was slightly larger for girls. Girls continue to outperform boys in all subjects except maths. Outcomes, as measured by international comparison studies, show improvements in key subjects like reading and maths. Most recently, England came fourth out of the 43 countries that tested children of the same age, in the Progress in International Literacy Study (PIRLS), with an average score of 558. The Department funds and supports research into improving attainment through the Educational Endowment Foundation (EEF), which aims to build a high quality evidence base on ‘what works’ in education practice, as well as supporting schools, colleges and nurseries to access and effectively mobilise this evidence to raise the attainment of disadvantaged two to nineteen year olds. The Department recently re-endowed the EEF with £137 million in 2022 to continue to build the evidence base until at least 2032. This funding will cement the EEF’s role as a central, long term feature of the education landscape for at least the next decade. The Department also continues to invest in programmes that contribute to primary pupils’ education attainment:- In 2018, the Department launched its English Hubs Programme to improve the teaching of reading with a focus on phonics, early language development and reading for pleasure.- The Government has also transformed the way maths is taught in schools based on the best available international evidence, including approaches from the highest performing countries in the world. Reform of the mathematics curriculum was accompanied by the introduction of a National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, which is now working with a network of 40 maths hubs to help local schools improve the quality of their teaching through the £100 million Teaching for Mastery programme.

Department for Education: EU Law

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department holds searchable IT archives (a) of Regulatory Impact Analysis estimates for EU-sourced regulation and (b) employing the search term out of scope relating to changes to regulatory burdens that could not be reviewed due to its EU origin.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is not held centrally. The Department does not hold searchable IT archives containing this information.

Universities: Regulation

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of higher education providers under investigation by the Office for Students relating to breaches of their conditions of registration.

Robert Halfon: The Office for Students (OfS) is the independent regulator of higher education in England and is an arms-length body. The OfS have confirmed that they have opened over 30 investigations at universities and colleges. Decisions to publish information about their investigation work are a matter for the OfS.

Universities: Strikes

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of universities deducting wages of staff that engage in industrial action on levels of participation in industrial action in that sector.

Robert Halfon: The full impact of the marking and assessment boycotts will not be known until the end of June 2023, which is after the exam boards are due to have convened. This is because some institutions will not know until then whether their staff are participating in the boycotts.The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) has surveyed its members to gain an estimate of the impact of the marking boycott. 58% of its members responded, to outline that:Half of the institutions who responded were confident that less than 5% of academic staff would partake in the marking boycott. 22% reported that between 5% and 10% of academics were likely to be taking part.38% of institutions who responded were unsure of the level of impact.Half of the institutions who responded expected that less than 10% of students would be impacted. Universities are taking a variety of measures to mitigate the impact of the marking boycott and minimise the disruption, including by reallocating marking to other staff members and hiring external markers. The specific mitigating actions will be different for every institution, as each institution will be impacted in different ways.

University of Gibraltar: British Students Abroad

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to encourage UK students to study at the University of Gibraltar.

Robert Halfon: The department encourages prospective students to choose to study at an institution that best meets their needs and interests. The department understands that there are UK students who have chosen to study at the University of Gibraltar, either funded privately or on a scholarship. The department is currently exploring whether it would be possible to finance English students to study in Gibraltar, whilst ensuring that those students receive an education and benefit from safeguards which are broadly comparable with those in England.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Energy Bills Rebate: Artificial Intelligence

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the accuracy of decisions for applications to the Energy Support Fund made by the automated decision making process.

Amanda Solloway: Automated decision-making was utilised within the application process for the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) to identify any applications for households which have already received support either through the EBSS AF or the Energy Bills Support Scheme. This helped the department to process a large number of cases at once, ensuring eligible applicants could receive their support as soon as possible, whilst protecting public funds against fraud. Any applicant who believes that their application has been incorrectly rejected due to this process can call our contact centre helpline for further assistance.

Energy Bills Rebate

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many applications to the Energy Support Scheme have been refused and later overturned.

Amanda Solloway: The Department does not have these figures at this time as applications for the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding are still being processed. The latest application figures, including rejected applications, were published on 15 June on GOV.UK - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-bills-support-scheme-alternative-fund-gb-ni-and-alternative-fuel-payment-alternative-fund-applications-made-by-customers.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress he has made on the review of the Warm Home Discount.

Amanda Solloway: The evaluation of the reformed Warm Home Discount scheme is expected to commence in summer, with a view to monitoring the results and informing the future of the scheme.

Electricity: Standing Charges

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a single rate for electricity standing charges levied on households across the UK.

Amanda Solloway: The standing charge includes some electricity distribution costs, which vary regionally to reflect the different costs of maintaining and upgrading the distribution network in different regions. Ofgem, as the independent energy regulator overseeing network charges, has previously reviewed regional differences in network charges. Its report found that there are advantages in charges that broadly reflect the costs that different users place on the system. In particular, this cost-reflective approach to network charging supports an efficient system where overall network costs are minimised for consumers across Great Britain.

Solar Power

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has had with water companies on the potential merits of using floating solar panels on (a) lakes, (b) reservoirs, (c) industrial ponds and (d) near coastal areas on energy generation.

Graham Stuart: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State met representatives from Thames Water Ventures on the 19th of April 2023 to discuss their plans for floating solar across their estate of reservoirs and the merits of floating solar deployment across the UK.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Disability

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the National Disability Strategy published on 28 July 2021, which of his Department’s commitments in that strategy that have not been paused as a result of legal action have (a) been fully, (b) been partially and (c) not been implemented.

Graham Stuart: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero does not have commitments in the National Disability Strategy but will be providing further details of recent work to improve disabled people’s lives in the forthcoming Disability Action Plan consultation due for publication in the summer.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Access to Work Programme

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether an Access to Work scheme has been implemented in their Department.

Graham Stuart: From 1st April 2022, criteria and assessments for the Access to Work scheme changed and government departments are not eligible to receive support from Access to Work. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is supporting staff with requirements for reasonable adjustments due to disability or long-term health concerns including for equipment, software and hardware, training, coaching and other reasonable adaptations. Specialist assessments are carried out as needed through the occupational health provider as per the flexible cross-government occupational health framework.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Vodafone Group

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment their Department has made of the potential effect of the merger between Three and Vodafone on their Department's contracts with Vodafone.

Graham Stuart: The Department does not currently hold any contracts with Vodafone or Three.

Energy: Meters

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to improve the availability of smart meters for properties which are unable to connect to the Wide Area Network.

Amanda Solloway: Today, the Data Communications Company (DCC) provides Wide Area Network (WAN) coverage for smart meters to at least 99.25% of premises across Great Britain. The DCC also has license obligations to explore solutions for increasing WAN coverage even further. DCC is currently developing a business case exploring such solutions, including an option for using already available internet-connected Consumer Access Devices to provide smart services. The consumer would need to have their own broadband connection and be prepared to enable the Consumer Access Device to utilise it. The Department expects to receive initial proposals from DCC shortly for review.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Access to Work Programme

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether an Access to Work scheme has been implemented in their Department.

George Freeman: From 1st April 2022, criteria for the Access to Work scheme and assessments changed and government departments have not been eligible to receive support from Access to Work. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology continues to support staff with requirements for reasonable adjustments due to disability or long-term health concern including for equipment, software and hardware, training, coaching and other reasonable adaptations. Specialist assessments are carried out as needed through the occupational health provider as per the flexible cross-government occupational health framework.

Shipping: Research

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what data her Department holds on the total value (a) public and (b) private investment in research and development by the Maritime sector in each of the last five years.

George Freeman: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published detailed figures for shipbuilding R&D performed by businesses in the UK for years up to 2020, including how much of this was financed by the UK government, as part of its Business Enterprise Research and Development (BERD) release. In 2020 this was £393m of which £356m was funded by the UK Government. Because of the recent ONS methodology changes, it did not publish this detail for 2021, but I hope it will be able to do so in future releases. UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is partnering with the Department of Transport to provide £7.4m funding to establish a flagship UK national clean maritime research hub due to begin in September 2023. EPSRC also supports £58m of research in the maritime sector.

Department for Transport

Carers: Greater Manchester

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department is providing to unpaid carers in (a) Stockport constituency and (b) Greater Manchester to help deal with the effects of the cost of living crisis.

Mr Richard Holden: Greater Manchester Combined Authority has been allocated £94.8 million government funding for their Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), to deliver improvements to their local bus services. Part of this funding has been used to introduce a £2 bus fare cap to help people in Stockport and Greater Manchester with cost of living pressures and save on everyday travel costs. This is in addition to £1.07billion funding from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement to transform local public transport and active travel networks and £37.5 million for zero emission buses, which will benefit all residents. In order to keep vital services running, we have provided over £135 million in emergency and recovery funding since March 2020 to Greater Manchester Combined Authority and bus operators to support bus services until end of June. On 17 May, we announced that we will provide up to £300 million in further funding from July 2023 until April 2025, of which £140 million will go to bus operators in England, outside London, to help them maintain bus services. Recently we confirmed an additional £18m in extraordinary funding for Greater Manchester to help maintain local transport services until the end of 2024.

Buses: Port of Dover

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he made of the causes of coach delays at the port of Dover.

Mr Richard Holden: Delays can be caused by a number of factors, at Easter this was principally due to high levels of demand exceeding capacity to handle, together with many coaches arriving well before their allotted sailing times. The first weekend of the Easter holidays saw higher than expected coach volumes travelling outbound via the port of Dover leading to longer processing times for border checks. New systems and processes to handle coaches were implemented at the Port for May half-term leading to minimal delays.

Motorways: Speed Limits

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing motorway speed limits to 80mph.

Mr Richard Holden: The Department has not undertaken any recent assessment on increasing the national speed limit from 70mph to 80mph.

Speed Limits: Air Pollution

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department have made an assessment of the potential impact of 20mph speed limits on air pollution.

Mr Richard Holden: The Department has made no recent assessment of the impact of 20mph speed limits on air pollution.

Speed Limits: Safety

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of 20mph speed limits on the safety of motorists.

Mr Richard Holden: The Department for Transport published a comprehensive three-year evaluation of the effect of 20mph signed-only limits on 22 November 2018; this may be found here. The evaluation considered collision and casualty statistics for all road user types. It showed that typically they resulted in less than a 1mph reduction in average speed.

Speed Limits: Fines

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to take steps to allow (a) Birmingham City Council and (b) other local authorities to keep the revenue collected from speeding fines.

Mr Richard Holden: The Government has no plans to take steps to allow (a) Birmingham City Council and (b) other local authorities to keep the revenue collected from speeding fines.

Rivers: Transport

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential ways rivers may be further utilised as urban transport routes (a) nationally and (b) on the River Ouse, Yorkshire.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the impact of river transport on pollution levels in urban settings; and what comparative assessment he has made of recent trends in (a) road and (b) river transport usage.

Mr Richard Holden: Whilst operational usage of rivers and canals is a matter for the relevant navigation authorities, rather than the Department for Transport, as part of the development of the Future of Freight Plan, published in 2022, Government engaged with the inland waterways sector to better understand domestic freight flows but has made no specific assessment of individual waterways.

M6: Tolls

Paula Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he held discussions with Midland Expressway Ltd on removing the higher rate Attendance Allowance from the list of benefits eligible for a disability exemption pass for the M6 Toll road, before that allowance was removed.

Mr Richard Holden: M6 Toll is a privately-owned asset. Any changes to toll exemptions are a commercial decision for the concessionaire, Midland Expressway Limited (MEL).

Alternative Fuels

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to publish its strategy for Low Carbon Fuels.

Jesse Norman: The Department will publish a Low Carbon Fuels Strategy later this year, with the aim to support investment in the sector by setting out a vision for the deployment of low carbon fuels across transport modes up to 2050.

Department for Transport: Access to Work Programme

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether an Access to Work scheme has been implemented in their Department.

Jesse Norman: Following a cross-government consultation exercise in 2019, a decision was taken in 2020 to change the Access to Work eligibility criteria to standardise workplace adjustments for civil servants. As a result, departments were asked to take over the responsibility for putting in place workplace adjustments for their employees from 1st April 2022.  The Department for Transport (DfTc) therefore has a dedicated service to manage, procure and fund the provision of Workplace Adjustments for individuals with a disability and/or health condition.

Department for Transport: EU Law

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department holds searchable IT archives (a) of Regulatory Impact Analysis estimates for EU-sourced regulation and (b) employing the search term out of scope relating to changes to regulatory burdens that could not be reviewed due to EU origin.

Jesse Norman: Regulatory Impact Assessments are the responsibility of the Better Regulation Executive in the Department for Business and Trade. However, the Better Regulation Executive do not hold information relating to the impacts of EU-sourced regulations. Retained EU laws are currently being reviewed by each Department to consider whether it should be removed, kept or reformed. The Department for Transport’s Better Regulation Unit records all Regulatory Impact Assessments conducted by the Department. This includes a breakdown of those Regulatory Impact Assessments that implement domestic policy, as well as international and European obligations. The Department for Transport does not hold searchable archives relating to employing the search term out of scope relating to changes to regulatory burdens that could not be reviewed due to EU origin.

Treasury

PAYE and VAT: Registration

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of HMRC processing times for (a) PAYE reference numbers and (b) VAT numbers on British theatre companies; and if he will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins: HMRC are processing applications within service level. While awaiting a VAT number, businesses can continue to operate and should begin maintaining records and accounting for VAT on the date they become liable to register. VAT should not be disclosed separately until the registration number is received, but businesses should inform VAT-registered customers that VAT invoices will be issued later. While waiting for a PAYE reference, businesses in any industry can continue to trade and retain records from the date the business begins to employ staff, which can then be reported to HMRC once the reference is allocated.